Power Line Polarimetric Imaging by Helicopter Radars: Modeling and Experimental Validation

Masha Bortsova, Hlib Cherepnin, Volodymyr Kosharskyi, Volodymyr Ponomaryov (), Anatoliy Popov, Sergiy Sadovnychiy, Beatriz Garcia-Salgado and Eduard Tserne
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Masha Bortsova: Air Force Research Center, Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University, 61045 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Hlib Cherepnin: Aerospace Radio-Electronic Systems Department, National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, 61070 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Volodymyr Kosharskyi: Aerospace Radio-Electronic Systems Department, National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, 61070 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Volodymyr Ponomaryov: Escuela Superior de Ingenieria Mecanica y Electrica, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City 04330, Mexico
Anatoliy Popov: Aerospace Radio-Electronic Systems Department, National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, 61070 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Sergiy Sadovnychiy: Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Mexico City 07730, Mexico
Beatriz Garcia-Salgado: Escuela Superior de Ingenieria Mecanica y Electrica, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City 04330, Mexico
Eduard Tserne: Aerospace Radio-Electronic Systems Department, National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, 61070 Kharkiv, Ukraine

Mathematics, 2025, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: Onboard millimeter-wave radar is one way to improve helicopter flight safety at low altitudes in difficult meteorological conditions. Low-altitude flight is associated with the risk of collision with low-visibility obstacles such as power lines. Since power lines have the property of polarization anisotropy, it is necessary to use radar polarimetry methods to increase the radar visibility of such obstacles for detection. This paper investigates the possibility of identifying low-visibility polarization-anisotropic objects, such as power lines, in polarimetric images obtained by onboard helicopter radars to warn the pilot about the danger of a collision with a low-visibility object. Consequently, the use of a polarimetric radar with a polarization modulation of the emitted signal, the two-channel polarization synchronous reception of reflected signals and Eigenvalue signal processing in real time was proposed, aiming to eliminate the dependence of reflected signals on the spatial orientation of power transmission line wires. Additionally, an optimal algorithm for adaptive polarization selection, obtained by the maximum likelihood method, was proposed to detect such objects against the background of the underlying surface. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was tested using computer modeling methods. Moreover, a W-band polarimetric radar system was designed for experimental studies of this concept. The developed radar system provides digital real-time signal processing and the reconstruction of composite polarimetric images. It displays information about the polarization characteristics of the objects in the scanned area and the results of their polarization selection. Therefore, the system informs the pilot about dangerous objects along the helicopter’s route. Radar experimental tests in actual environmental conditions have confirmed the proposed concept’s correctness and the proposed method and algorithm’s effectiveness.

Keywords: image registration; image processing; polarimetric image; polarimetric radar; eigenvalue signal processing; adaptive polarization selection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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